IO, South Sumatra – After the riots during the vote
recapitulation plenary meeting, five members of the Election Commission (KPU)
Empat Lawang, South Sumatra, were deactivated. The riots were caused by alleged
manipulation of votes.

Member of the
South Sumatra KPU Legal and Supervision Division, Hepriadi said that the policy
was taken with many considerations. Which are riots during plenary at the
district level and the distrust of election participants to the election
committee in the district. “Based on many considerations and
recommendations from Bawaslu, 5 members of the KPU in Empat Lawang, have been
deactivated,” he said on Monday (13/5).

He also
explained that the deactivation was valid from May 9 to May 22 2019. After that,
a thorough evaluation will be carried out and brought to the Election
Organizers Honorary Board (DKPP).

“Commissioners
of KPU Empat Lawang are considered failed to carry out their duties. We take
over their roles including the recapitulation of the results of the vote count
in all Empat Lawang sub-district,” he said.

And with the
objections from witnesses during the recapitulation at the provincial level, one
side asked to be resolved at the Constitutional Court. The striking point that
is protested was the mismatch of vote-counts on the level PKK, DA form with the
DB form at the KPU district level.

“Please file
a lawsuit the Constitutional Court if there is a claim of vote inflation,
that’s the procedure,” he concluded. (dsy)